Retaining guard for fluorescent lamps



u y v K. A. YSAWIN 7 2,403,240

I RETAINING GUARD FORYFLUORESCENT LAMPS v Filed Dec. 2, 1943 I5 14 I I/ II/ II/I/I/l/I I7 Patented July 2, 1946- RETAINING GUARD FOB FLUORESCENT LAMPS a Kenneth A. Sawin, Auburndale, Mesa, assig'nor to Wheeler Reflector Company, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 2, 1943, Serial No. 512,587

This invention relates to fluorescent lighting Claims. (Cl. 240-78) fixtures. and it has for its object to provide a novel lamp-retaining safety guard for the fluorescent lamps to prevent them from falling to the floor in case they become disengaged from their supporting sockets. The features wherein the invention resides will be more fully hereinafter set forth and then pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a fluorescent lighting fixture embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Fig; 1,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the guardholding clips.

The fixture shown in the drawing is one having a bank of three fluorescent lamps which are indicated at I, although the invention is equally applicable for use in a fluorescent lighting fixture having a single lamp or a multiple bank of lamps.

Each lamp l is supported at each end in a socket element 2 as usual, and the lighting flxture shown is equipped with a reflector 3 of some usual type. This reflector is formed with openings or apertures 4 through which the sockets 2 extend, and the fixture also embodies the usual channel casing or top housing 5 within which is located the starter switch, wiring and other accessories necessary for the operation of the lamps I. Inasmuch as such accessories form no part of the present invention, I have not thought it necessary to illustrate them herein.

It sometimes happens that a fluorescent lamp becomes detached at one or both ends from its sockets 2, and when this occurs the lamp is liable to fall to the floor and cause personal injury or damage to critical equipment.

The present invention relates to a novel retaining guard which prevents the lamp from falling in case it accidentally becomes disenga ed from the socket at either end. The guard herein illustrated is in the form of a wire 6 which is located underneath the lamp or bank of lamps at each end and which is supported by the re-. flector 3, said guard being so constructed that it can be readily moved into an-inoperative position to permit re-lamping of fixture.

Various ways of attaching the guard to the reflector 3 may be employed without departing from the invention. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention there is shown a pair of holding clips 1 to which the ends of the guard member 6. are secured, these clips-in turn being nnected to the reflector 3.

The clip 1 herein illustrated is made of a strip of sheet metal bent to present the two parallel sections ,8 and 9 that are adapted to embrace the edge of one of the apertures 4, said clip also being bentto present the guard-holding portion H), which extends parallel to the sections 8 and 9 and which forms with the section 9 a channel I9 to receive the portion l6 of the guard. The clip applied to the reflector 3 before the latter is installed, this being done by locating the clip so that the sections 8 and 9 embrace one edge of an opening 4, the connecting portion ll of the clip engaging the edge of the opening. The clip is placed on the reflector with the guard-holding portion i0 below the reflector as shown in Fig. 1.

The guard member 6 herein shown is formed with the body portion I! which extends underneath the lamp or bank of lamps and with the upstanding portion l3 at each end which is connected to the clip I. Since these clips are located in the apertures through which the sockets 2 ex- I tend, the upstanding end of each guard is offset laterally so that when the ends of the guard are connected to the clips the body portion of the guard will be situated underneath the lamp which is supported by the sockets. The manner in which the end portion of the guard is oflset is best shown in Fig. 2. Each upstanding end portion is formed with a laterally projecting portion I4 and with asecond upstanding portion is and also with a second laterally extending portion 16 which is sustained by the clip-holding portion I!) of the clip and with a downturned portion I1.

The guard is attached to the clips by introducing the portion it of the guard into the space between the guard-supporting portion l0 and the section 8 of each clip, and this guard-supporting portion H) of the clip is preferably made with a rib it which prevents accidental disengagement oi the guard from the clip. The guard-supporting portion ID or .the clip is made sufllciently resilient so that the guard can be attached to the clip by iorcing it into the channel is over the rib It, the resiliency of the portion ll! of the clip returning the said portion to its normal position after the guard has been attached thereto thereby preventing accidental disengagement of the guard therefrom. The material of which the guard is made is sufficiently flexible to permit the upstanding end portions l3 thereof to be bent inwardly sufliciently to disengage them from the clips or to apply them to the clips.

When the .guard is used in connection with a Each clip is I 3 I ably give the body I! o! the guard a sinuous shape as shown. thereby providing it with a concave clearance being less than the distance it is necessary tolower the lamp in order to remove it from its sockets. Hence even when any lamp is resting on and is supported by the guard, suchlamp is still located between its sockets and the latter serve as stops to prevent axial movement or the lamp,

when it is necessar to widen the fixture. either end of the guard may be disconnected from its clip by forcing the portion is out from the channel l9, and when this is done, the guard will swing down about its other end into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1. thus carrying it into a position in which it does not inter. fere with placing lamps into or removing them from the sockets 2.

The safety guard is adapted for use on any fluorescent lighting fixture regardless of the length of wattage of the lamp.

Iclaim:

l. The combination with a fluorescent lamp, a socket tor supporting the lamp, and a reflector for the lamp having an opening through which the socket extends, of a guard-holding clip having a portion embracing the edge of the opening, said clip being retained in position by the socket, and a retaining guard situated beneath the lamp and supported by said clip.

2. A fluorescent lighting fixture comprising a bank of fluorescent lamps, sockets by which said lamps are supported, a reflector for said lamps having openings through which the sockets extend, a pair, of guard-holding clips, each having a U-shaped portion to embrace the edge of one oi. said openings and also having a guard-supporting portion beneath the reflector, and a re-. taining guard extending beneath the lamps and.

having upstanding ends detachably engaged with the guard-supporting portions of the clips.

3. A fluorescent lighting fixture comprising a bank of fluorescent lamps, sockets by which said lamps are supported, a reflector for said lamps having openings through which the sockets extend, a pair of guard-holding clips, each having a U- shaped portion to embrace the edge of one of said openings and also having a guard-supporting portion beneath the reflector, and a retaining guard having upstanding ends detachably engaged with the guard-holding portions of the clips, said upstanding ends being laterally ofl'set.

whereby the body of the guard is located beneath the lamps,

4. A fluorescent lighting fixture comprising 'a bank of fluorescent lamps, sockets by which said lamps are suported, a reflector for said lamps having socket-receiving openings throughtwhich the sockets extend, two separate, guard holding clips, each having a portion extending through a socket-receiving opening of the reflector and a guard-engaging portion below the reflector, and a retaining guard extending underneath the lamps and supported by the guard-engaging por tions of the clips.

5. A fluorescent lighting fixture comprising a reflectorhaving a concave reflecting surface and also having socket-receiving openings, lamp sockets extending through said openings, fluorescentv socket in the corresponding opening, and a retaining guard extending underneath the lamps and detachably secured to the guard-engaging portions of the clips. I

I KENNETH A. SAWIN. 

